Be in 'Star Wars 7': J.J. Abrams offers fans chance of a lifetime

Star Wars: Episode VII is currently filming in Abu Dhabi, and director J.J. Abrams recently posted a video from the set offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of that galaxy far, far away...

In the video, Abrams announced "Star Wars: Force for Change," a new collaborative initiative between Disney, Lucasfilm and Abrams' Bad Robot production company to raise money for UNICEF's Innovation Labs.

"Starting today, we're going to give you a chance to win a trip to be in the movie," Abrams said. "That means you get to come to London where we're shooting the movie...and you get to meet the cast, go behind the scenes and see the whole movie making process."

Then he added the real hook:

"But more than that, we'll put you in hair and makeup and wardrobe and you'll actually get to be in the movie, that's right you'll be in Star Wars."

So what do you have to do for your chance at this coveted prize? From now until July 18, Star Wars fans who donate $10 to UNICEF via Omaze.com will be automatically entered for a chance at the trip.

Omaze works with celebrities to set up chances at fantastic experiences for fans who are willing to donate to the charity the celebrity wants to help. In January, the site worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger to create a viral campaign for his After-School All-Stars program for kids in low-income families.

Each $10 donation counts as a separate entry, so particularly charitable fans can improve their chances by donating more.

UNICEF's Innovation Labs develops "innovative solutions to some of the world's biggest challenges" to help children around the world, according to the Omaze web page about Force for Change. Disney is contributing $1 million to the effort.

During the video, Abrams says that he's been a Star Wars fan since he was a kid, and called the experience "surreal."

The desert scene, presumably from the planet "Tatooine," showed people in costume milling around in the background. In the middle of the video, Abrams treated fans to their first glimpse of a Star Wars: Episode VII alien, as a denizen of the planet walks up to the director.

What do you think of the "Star Wars: Force for Change" initiative? Leave a comment below.